Fresh off a loss in the NBA Finals, the Dallas Mavericks are looking to boost their roster in hopes of another deep playoff run next year. Recently, the Mavericks traded wing Tim Hardaway Jr. and three second-round picks to the Detroit Pistons for Quentin Grimes. Furthermore, the team acquired forward Melvin Ajinca, cousin of former Mavericks big Alexis Ajinca, during the 2024 NBA Draft. However, it seems like the team is only getting started. According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Mavericks have interest in Golden State Warriors free agent Klay Thompson.
“League sources tell The Stein Line that the Dallas Mavericks, with some newfound financial flexibility after securing the Tim Hardaway Jr.-to-Detroit trade that I wrote about Tuesday (see the full Twitter thread here), are another team intent on exploring the feasibility of signing Thompson once he makes it to free agency.”
After 13 years in Golden State, Thompson is set to hit unrestricted free agency. Last season, the four-time NBA champion had one of the worst seasons of his career so far. Thompson appeared in 77 games but started just 63 of them. On the year, he averaged 17.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. Additionally, he shot 43.2% from the field and 38.7% from beyond the arc.
Dallas Mavericks Eying Top Free Agent This Offseason
Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers Also Have Interest in Klay Thompson
The Mavericks do not appear to be the only team interested in acquiring Thompson this summer. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Anthony Slater, the Nuggets and 76ers are two teams to keep an eye on in the Thompson sweepstakes.
“A league source said Philadelphia has interest in Thompson. If the Nuggets lose free-agent-to-be Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who has decided to decline his player option and enter the market, a league source said Denver has pegged Thompson as a possible replacement. Caldwell-Pope, as it were, is believed to be a strong possibility for Orlando. There are a handful of other rival teams also in play for Thompson, depending on his price tag.”
Philadelphia had previously expressed interest in acquiring a major wing this summer. So far, Jimmy Butler, Brandon Ingram, Paul George, and Zach LaVine have all been linked to the team. However, Thompson is the only one who is a free agent and could be the easiest for the team to land.
As for Denver, they recently traded guard Reggie Jackson to the Charlotte Hornets and will likely lose Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency. Interestingly, Caldwell-Pope had been linked to the 76ers in the past as well. If he leaves, it will be interesting to see how this impacts Thompson’s free-agent market.
The Last Word on Klay Thompson
Acquiring Thompson would be a big move for Dallas. Coming off a surprising NBA Finals appearance, it makes sense for the team to attempt to capitalize on their success as soon as possible. By signing Thompson, they would land another player with championship experience. He may not be the same player he was at the peak of the Warriors dynasty, but Thompson has made it clear he still has a lot left in the tank.
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